Collapsible shelter



April 3, 1951 R. s. PELToN 2,547,770

coLLAPsIBLE SHELTER Filed sept. 17, 194s 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 AfrramvsY Patented Apr. 3, 1951 UN IT E D STATE Si` -f OF F I 2,547,770"Vlr COLLAPSIBLE SHELTR Robert S. Pelton,`-PalrnBach Fla.' Applicatinseptember 17, 1948, SeriaLNO. 49,7901 9"*Cli'nfs`.M (Cl.r 135--57 `v This inventionrelates -:to -collapsiblershelter deL-l.

vices, commonly f known` .-as,.lcabanas.r

It -isv an objectof thefpresent invention torpro-` videl a shelter device constructed in..a manner; to permit iti-.to be quicklywand.convenientlyfcol-fA lapsed and lthen :folded:` into a-:relatively compact and :easily handled package -ofwa sizseaca-V requiringfa minimum of space for storage.

, Avifurther r object :ofthe invention resides in thefnovel construction-of Athe device,tproviding` a iiexibleV cover that` is maintained inan Iexe` tended or'taut positionzwhile in use bylsuitab'le exible elements supported from acommon vcar-vrien all of which arecollapsibleinaa horizontal planefto a position oft parallelism with respect toeacliother;after, which theyare folded. or; iiexed upon themselves'v andmetained4v in such position against aocidental.displacenientiV The-invention further readily lends itself* to structed lin accordance with the invention and in: `extended position `Figure V2 is affronti elevationA of ,the device-in extended: position;

Figure "3 is .an enlarged .frontf-elevationof: a common i pivotal .support for-:a plurality.fofA stays ,Y Figure 4 -is-avplan view lof the:` pivotal, support as illustrated in FigurefS, parts-.beingvzcollapsed to:4 folded position Figures5-is a top,planfview. of.-theistaysv-.iin collapsed position prior to folding,

Figure 6 is afside.n elevation ofrasingle--rstay, illustrating its attachment,A to the pivotalsupf port andshowing the vmanner ofvfolding indotted lines,`

Figure !7 is a planzviewof a modied formof` the-'invention for use` as `a tentf FigureS isra planiview ofa modified form ofzpivotal support :for-the stays,

Fi'guref is a fragrrientarysection` on linee-fi) ofwFigure 8 and,

. Figure 10 is 1' an elevational:V View `of :the 4loweriend portion of rone of the stays en'iployedv inthe structure of :Figure 8.7v

Like numerals areemployed to designate=like parts Y*tl'iroughout thee-severalfigures'ofi the` drawings;

. Referring specifically to. the drawings,l the nu; merahfdesignates a. commonv pivotal supporti` for: apluralityaof stays 6,L-.illiistratedinjFig'ures 1I toi 5- inolu'sive` Thesupport 5 comprisesia i preferably, metallicLrUI-'shaped member having;

upper and. vlower .spaced parallel walls 'i and` 8;'4 ccnnectedilby a frontfwall 9. The stays 6,'"of which there. areisixdn number 'for purposesof illustration, are forr'ned` of i Hat metallic s bars; preferably of springlmetal `and have 'their up` per ends pivotallyj mounted between the' plates 'I Tand, 8,Y as, shoWnat "HL` The, two .outermost stays Vtifare. limited intheir-` outerlv extended movement 'by their-'abutment with?. the connect:V ingivvall iifl in Vwlii'clfii position," the" other` stays, areall! properly" spaced, due to their "connection with a-- s-uitable'vexible covering il, such as can-vas, huntingv or the dike; .ity beingV usual in devices. of lthis character to attach the'cove'rto the stays bysnap fasteners; cord loops, rivetting or the like. Thus; the Astay,ismaintained-` in `its sameprelative position -with respect to the .cover at' all times; 'Iiie lower,-or'free"ends of the 'staysare twisted lat aright vangle andprjovided with an aperture; as shown at I2,for'apurposeto bei described. l 'I'he free 'f endsi'of the stays?` are adapted tobe 'forc'edinto the groundas a'rnean'sV tosanchorl the ,sh'elterV against winds. To Afa'.

cilitate the 'entry of the ends l2 into theground, angle ,devices l3"`are,rivetted to the loweri'end of the stay; as shownA in Figure 6," andV Yserve as' step-on devices to force 'the end into the' ground; The covering- I l extends .between the` stepeon" devices lIIS-"and the stay at assembly andinsuch position is Apermanently secured against shifting by the rivets.. l

Ejchpof the stays( 5; fhas .lrivett'ed 'to its inner. face, as at I 4'; a /reinforcinei'strap i 5, serv/ingrid strengthnthrstayand prevent too"sha'r1o`;a fold'' ing` thereof vin' `the` final collapsingj movement of the she1t'r1 Tie supporodeviceghisprovided with'l a -fe'xiblf retainef`bar 16," parallel withl thgunder surface of .tl''e support T5 andfrigidly; connected tofthe. memberx by anupturn'ed end l'lf'passing throughthe plates 'i and'an'd serv# ing. also as vthe VpiVo'talpin-foi" jtl'ie 'left-V outermost stay.. The bar I6,-is detachablyjsupported'ona hook ydevice I 8j likewise passing through "the plates: l 'fandv ``and .l serving das" af pivotal 'point for the right, outermost 'stay With the shelter -infthe, extended "position" as showninFigure1,'..it now, becomes,- desirable't completelylucollapse@the device fon storage or transportat-iorn` l Thesendsl I 2llof the stays. lbeing rstflwithdrawnirom the ground,l .the stays "are swung rearwardly on their pivotal points l until all the stays lie in parallelism, as indicated in Figures 4 and 5. The cover obviously follows and folds between the stays during this movement. The combined stays and support now assume substantially quarter circle shape in edge elevation.

To further collapse the device, the free end of the bar I6 is disengaged from its hook |8 and the several stays, beginning at the left side, are folded upon themselves, as indicated in dotted lines in Figure 6 and its end |2 having the aperture is engaged over the bar I6, until all the stays have been so engaged, at which time the bar |6 is reengaged with its retaining hook I8. The reinforcing straps |5 prevent too sharp a band in the stays 6 during this final folding movement. Thus, it will be seen, that the shelter has now been collapsed into a relatively compact and easily transportable bundle, capable of storage in the luggage compartment of a vehicle or conveniently carried in the hand to the beach or other place of use. To extend the shelter, the stays are first released from the bar I6, at which time they will spring outward to their normal curvature, as in Figure 6. The stays are then swung about their pivots |61 until the outermost stays abut the wall 9. In this position, the cover has been drawn sufficiently taut. Each of the outermost stays 6 are provided with apertures I9 and, when in fully extended position, align with apertures 20 in the plates 'l and 8. Pins, not shown, may then be inserted through these openings to positively maintain the device in its extended position.

The form of the invention illustrated in Figure 7 contemplates the use of the shelter construction of Figures l to 6 as a fully enclosed tent. In this form of the invention, two additional forward stays are provided to form the front opening, with all the other stays connected with and supporting the cover I l. The two forward stays are pivotally supported in the common pivotal support similar to the stays 6. A similar pivotal support 5 is employed for the stays. A closure flap 2| is preferably connected with the free edges of the cover by any suitable means, such as conventional slide fasteners 22 and this ap may be completely removed or detached at one side only as found desirable. `Obviously, this form of the invention may be made in a plurality of sizes, for beach or lawn use or for commercial use as a collapsible enclosed shelter. The device may likewise be supported as a garden table umbrella, in which case, the pivotal support is mounted upon a suitable post or standard carried by the table.

, In the form of the invention illustrated in Figures 8 to 10, a modified form of support for the stays has been provided. The support, illustrated as a whole by the numeral 23, comprises outer and inner concentric circular shaped rods 24 and 25. The free ends of the rods are connected, as by welding, to a common V-shaped rod 26. A brace rod 21 extends from the rod 26 and is welded' to the rods 24 and 25, as shown, thus providing a rigid circular frame or guide. The rod 26 has its free ends turned down to form one leg of a supporting rod 28, corresponding to the bar |6 and a supporting hook 29, corresponding to the hook |8. A plurality of stays 30, of cylindrical rod stock, suitably spring tempered, are bent to form eyes 3| adjacent their upper free ends, adapted to slidably engage the outer circular rod 24, while a tail extension 32 underlies the inner circular rod 25. The terminal ends of the rod 24 are offset inwardly at their points of connection 4 with the rod 26 and serve to provide sockets or recesses into which the eyes 3| of the two outermost stays will engage to maintain the shelter in the extended position. The tail extensions of the outermost stays are provided with loops 33 adapted to snap over the rod 26 to prevent pivotal movement of the stays. The lower ends of the stays 3U are bent upon themselves to form loops or eyes 34 and a step-on device 35. The cover as illustrated in Figure l0 extends downwardly between the step-on device and the lower end of y the stay and is held against displacement by the rivets 36, that serve to hold the device in preformed shape. The loops 34 are similar to and serve the same purpose as the apertures in the terminal ends |2 of the stays 6.

The collapsing of the shelter device of Figure 8 is accomplished by rst releasing the loops 33 and moving the eyes 3| of the outermost stays from their retaining recesses, after which the stays are caused to slide around the rod 24 to be bunched parallel with each other. The stays are then folded upon themselves and have their looped ends 34 engaged over the rod 28, similar in all respects to the rst form of the invention.

It will be understood, that the number of stays employed may be varied in accordance with the size of the shelter, as obviously, an unusually large shelter will require a greater number of stays to maintain its contour. The mode of assembly, collapsing and extension is identical in each case, with the stays first shifted to the parallel position and then folded to be hooked upon the retainer bar or rod. The construction is extremely simple and cheap to manufacture and its simplicity permits of its extension and collapsing by the very simple procedure outlined, requiring no tools or other means of fastenings to maintain the device in either of its two positions, open or closed. The parts are few and of such nature as to require a minimum of attention. While no particular stress has been placed upon the covering I, it will be obvious that such covering will be made in many ways and designs, in segments and of different colors to lend attractiveness to the shelter. The novel form of ground anchoring means for the shelter provides a very secure means of supporting the device against movement in high winds and the lower circumferential edge of the cover may be provided with a relatively large hem calculated to lie upon the ground when the device has been placed in position.

It is to be understood, that the invention is not limited to the precise arrangement shown, but that it includes within its purview, whatever changes fairly come within either the terms of the invention or the scope of the subjoined claims.

Having described my invention, what I claim 1. A collapsible shelter comprising a plurality of bowed stay devices adapted to be swung in a horizontal plane toward and from each other, the lower ends of the stays being apertured a pivotal support for the several stays, a flexible covering attached to the several stays, the several stays, when moved to a point of contact with each other, adapted to be folded upon themselves, and secured in such folded position by a connection at the pivotal support, the said connection adapted to receive and hold the several apertured ends of the stay.

2. A collapsible shelter' comprising a plurality of bowed stay devices pivotally supported at one end upon a common support and having their lower free ends apertured, means formed upon the support for limiting the pivotal movement of the outermost stays to an extended position, the said stays adapted to pivot toward each other to jointly lie in parallelism, a flexible covering for the shelter attached to each individual stay and to th-e common support, the stays when in the position of parallelism adapted to be folded upon themselves in bowed form, a bar carried by the common support for receiving and maintaining the apertured free ends of the bowed stays when in the folded position.

3. A structure as recited in claim 2 wherein said stays are provided with reinforcing straps upon their inner surfaces.

4. A collapsible shelter comprising a plurality of contour stays bowed throughout their lengths and having their lower free ends apertured, a common support for pivotal mounting of the upper ends of the stays whereby said stays are swingable in a horizontal plane, stops means formed upon the support for limiting the -outer swinging movement of the outermost stays, means for retaining the stays in extended position, said stays when collapsed adapted to jointly lie in parallelism, a ilexible covering for the shelter connected with the several stays and with the common support and extendable with the said stays, the said covering serving to ,properly space the intermediate stays, the several stays provided with apertures adjacent their lower free ends, a retainer bar carried by the common'support, said stays after collapsing adapted to be folded upon themselves with their apertured ends engaging the retainer bar.

5. A structure as recited in claim 4 wherein the said stays are provided with step-on devices adjacent their lower ends for forcing the said ends into the ground.

6. A shelter device of generally semi-spherical shape comprising a plurality of flat stays bowed throughout their length, a common pivotal support for the upper ends of the stays to support` the stays in a horizontal swinging movement toward and from each other to form and collapse the shelter, said stays reinforced intermediate their ends, the lower ends of the stays twisted at a right angle and provided with an aperture, said pivotal support comprising a pair of spaced parallel plates connected at their forward edges, said stays pivotally supported between the plates, the stays adapted to swing rearwardly toward each other to lie in lparallelism, the stays adapted to move away from each other to an extended position, a ilexible covering for the shelter connected with each of the stays and with the pivotal support and adapted to be extended with the stays for providing a shelter enclosure, stepon devices rivetted to the stays adjacent their lower ends, the loweredge of the cover xed between the step-on devices and the stays against displacement, the stays after movement to the collapsed position adapted to be folded upon themselves and a retaining device carried by the pivoted device for the reception of the apertured end of the stays.

7. The structure of claim 4 wherein the common support is formed of a pair of parallel spaced Semimircular plates connected at their forward edges, said plates spaced a distance equal to the thickness of the stays, said retainer bar bolted at one end through the plates and serving as a pivotal mount for one outermost stay, a keeper for the free end of the bar, said keeper bolted through the plates and serving as a pivotal mount for the opposite outermost stay, said bar shiftable to and from the keeper.

8. A collapsible shelter comprising a plurality of bowed stay devices adapted to be swung in a horizontal ,plane toward and from each other, a pivotal support for the several stays that is connected jointly with the upper ends of the stays, a flexible covering attached to the several stays and serving to properlyspace the stays one from the other when the shelter is extended to open position, at least one of said stays extended at its lower end beyond the covering and provided with a step-on device for forcing the extended end into the ground.

9. A collapsible shelter comprising a plurality of bowed stay device adapted to swing in a horizontal ,plane toward and from each other, a pivotal support commonly connected to the upper ends of the several stays, a flexible covering connected with the several stays and serving to properly position the several stays one from the other when in the extended open position, means carried by the pivotal support for limiting the outer swinging movement of the outermost stays. the several stays extended at their lower ends beyond the lower marginal edge of the cover to provide ground piercing members, step-on devices xed to each extended end of the stays, the several stays when in the collapsed position adapted to lie in substantial parallelism, the several stays when in the collapsed position adapted to be folded upon themselves and means carried by the pivotal support whereby the extended ends are connected to the support for maintaining them in folded position.

ROBERT S. PELTO-N.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 720,709 Lawrenz Feb. 17, 1903 2,006,655 Roth July 2, 1935 2,266,853 Dabney Dec. 23, 1941 

